We found this website that lets you order valid U.S. postage stamps with your own photos on them! Our first thought was to order some with our dogs on them (in their best dog clothes, of course!), and we thought other pet owners might be interested too. You can check it out here:
www.photo.stamps.com
Hi! My name's Lance, and I just wanted to pop in and let you know that the American Humane Association had named October to be annual "Adopt-A-Dog Month" in order to draw attention to the numerous homeless dogs waiting to be adopted. Since I'm a rescued pup myself, I can tell you that it's no fun living in a shelter, and I waited every day for someone to give me a home. I'm very lucky to have been chosen, because too many other dogs are never adopted and a lot of them are put to sleep as the shelters get too full. So if there's any room in your heart and your home, why not take the time now to visit your local shelter and give one of my four-legged peers a family of their own?
Petfinder can also help you find a dog in your area that is right for you.
Due to several requests that we had for an easier way to navigate our website's Dog Shirts section, we have now broken it down into subcatagories and separated the boy's dog shirts from the girls'. We think that this new method works quite nicely and want to thank the customers who suggested it.
We’ve found a website that offers a huge variety of free online greeting cards with terrific dog pictures on them! They even have an option where you can upload a photo of your own dog to send a truly personalized greeting card.
You can check them out here: DogBreedz.com
Our fall fashions are starting to arrive, and there will be many additions within the next couple of weeks. Currently we have updated the dog dresses category with some terrific new styles. Many of our summer dog dresses now have reduced pricing, and are available in limited quantities.
Today is National Pet Memorial Day, established by the International Association of Pet Cemeteries as a special day meant for dog owners to honor their lost pets. People do this in many different ways, including having small memorial services, creating memorial scrapbooks of their pet, creating living memorials by planting a tree in their pet's name, or simply discussing the happy times they had with their pet.
We at Puppycoat Junction lost two beloved dogs in less than a year's time, and would like to to honor their memories by writing a little bit about them.
This is Taz, a beautiful elderly Pug whose lovable antics made everyone he met like him. When he wanted to play, he had a funny way of bugging out his big round eyes and flapping his curly tail that made everyone laugh. He loved to go for long walks, and investigated anything new with a funny little "oink oink oink" snort. He liked to give happy "puggy kisses' to you when you were petting him, and he was always ready to cuddle. To know Taz was to love him.
He died at the age of 10 in August of 2004, just one day before we had to leave for our move to Florida. It was doubly hard to get into the car and drive away, knowing that one member of our canine family was not with us.
This is Twister, our lovable giant Rottweiler. Weighing in at close to 130 pounds by the time he was three, his size intimidated most people until they had the chance to know him. Twister was everyone's friend; a big happy teddy bear. He especially loved kids, and was always extra careful when playing with them. His absolute favorite thing was to play in the water, particularly the lawn sprinkler. He would hop and flip and try to catch as much water as he could before it hit the ground. He never realized how big he was, and always wanted to sit on your lap. Twister was highly intelligent, very well-trained, and taught a lot of people that Rottweilers are not always something to fear.
He died in June of 2005, during his second battle with canine cancer. He was only 4 years old.
Both were wonderful friends, and we will always love and miss them.
If you're sniffin' around the 'Net looking for something to do, why not check out this cool Dog Breed Quiz.
We enjoyed it quite a bit, and were really suprised by some of the answers.
Lately, Mia has taken to sleeping in the larger dogs' bowls. She gets plenty of food (as you can see from her pudgy belly!), and she has a wonderfully soft dog bed of her own, so we're really not sure why she's doing this.
Jay comes running to "tell mommy" whenever Mia's in his bowl, so it's obviously not something that the Boxers find amusing.
Does anyone else have a little dog who has this habit?
August 19th is this year's date for National Homeless Animals Day. The International Society for Animal Rights Online (ISAR) founded this annual holiday in 1992 to increase public awareness of the millions of cats dogs and killed in shelters annually due to lack of homes, and to emphasize the importance of spaying and neutering pets.
Organizations around the world participate in many ways to acknowledge this holiday including: mobile adoptions, animal shelter open houses, festivals, spay/neuter or vaccination clinics, pet walks, and candlelight vigils. We encourage you to check your community calender to see how your area recognizes this event, or even to think up your own ways to participate by supporting your local humane organizations.
Here are a couple treat recipes to help keep your pup cool this summer. They are quick and easy to make, but they do make a bit of a mess when they melt so you will want to serve them somewhere away from your carpeting!
With forecasts across the nation still predicting record high summer temperatures and humidity, we mustn't forget that dogs are even more at risk for heat stroke, dehydration, and other heat-related illnesses as humans are. Dog's bodies are designed to conserve heat, and are much less efficient at cooling themselves. Below are a few things to consider to help your pet cool down and stay safe.
*Access to fresh water is one of the most important requirements for your dog, even if they stay indoors. Dogs will drink more in the hot summer months, so be sure to check their bowl often. Consider buying a "no-tip" bowl or an automatic waterer.
*Encourage your dog to remain as inactive as possible in the heat, if they haven't already taken it apon themselves to do this.
*Let your dog get wet! A plastic kiddie pool or a water sprinkler in the yard can provide lots of relief. If your dog is very small, you can buy a clean plastic pan (such as the ones they use for draining oil) to serve as a miniature pool for them.
*Give your dog a cool treat, such as an ice cube or a small piece of popsicle.
*If your pet is left alone in your home during the day while you work, prepare ahead of time in case there is a power outage in your neighborhood. Be sure there will be someone available who can at least check on your pets and open some windows if the air conditioning goes out.
* If you have an outdoor dog, consider bringing him indoors during the hottest part of the day, and be sure that his area of the yard provides plenty of shade. Try to use a tip-proof bowl for water, and remember to refill it often. Make sure the water bowl is in the shade, since the sun can quickly make it too hot to drink.
*If you must walk your dog, try to avoid walking them during the mid-day heat, and keep the walks short. If possible, select a route that provides as much shade as possible. Remember that dog's paws can be burned on hot sidewalks, sand, and asphalt: lay your palm on the surface, and if it is uncomfortable to you it will be uncomfortable to them. To avoid hot surfaces, allow your dog to walk in the grass as much as possible, or consider getting them a set of dog boots.
*When traveling in the car, don't forget to carry water and a bowl for your pet, and NEVER leave them in the car, even for a short time. On hot humid days, temperatures inside of a car parked in direct sunlight can rise more than 30 degrees per minute, and rapidly become lethal. Leaving windows down will not help (try sitting in the car for a few minutes after you turn it off--- you'll quickly realize what we mean). If you see a pet that has been left in a car, do take the time to contact the store's security officer or the police; it may just save that animal's life.
*Lots of innovative products are available to help keep your pet comfortable, including cooling bandanas, vests, and water-filled cooling beds.
If you dog begins to show signs of heat illness, immediately move them to a shaded or air-conditioned area. Encourage them to drink water, and apply cool packs to the head, neck and/or belly, or immerse them in cool (not cold) water to begin lowering their temperature. If you suspect your dog has a heat-induced illness, take them to the vet immediately. Some signs to watch out for are: heavy panting, vomiting, fever, excessive thirst, staggering, dark red or purple gums and/or tongue, listlessness, dazed look, rapid heartbeat, refusing to drink.
Isn't it funny how many idioms and expressions we have that pertain to dogs? Here's a list of some of them we've thought up; can you think of any more?
A barking dog never bites
A dog and pony show
A hang-dog look
Barking up the wrong tree
Dog days of summer
Dog tired
Doggone it!
Every dog has its day
Gone to the dogs
His bark is worse than his bite
Hot diggity dog!
I double dog dare ya
If you can't run with the big dogs, stay on the porch
In the dog house
It's a dog-eat-dog world
Lead a dog's life
Let sleeping dogs lie
Mean as a junk-yard dog
Putting on the dog
Raining cats and dogs
Sick as a dog
The hair of the dog that bit you
The underdog
Top dog
Treat you like a dog
Work like a dog
You can't teach an old dog new tricks
You lucky dog!
Bath day in our house of four dogs has always been a bit of an adventure, something a two-human team usually accomplishes, and I recently discovered that this is not a task that one person should try alone.
At the first sight of me gathering our favorite doggie shampoos and towels, Jay and Francis head for the bathroom in anticipation, while Mia and Lance try to become the first invisible dogs in history.
We normally start with Lance, since it seems the longer he waits for his turn the more stressed he becomes. First you have to "find' him though. He's hiding where he always is; under Jay's favorite quilt with nothing but his backside sticking out, and when you pull the quilt away he always looks amazed that you found him. Into the tub he goes, and he begins to vocally "grumble", which gets louder in volume throughout the bath. Jay and Francis sit outside the bathroom door, both whining loudly because they can hear Lance's grumbling; this is what we call "bath time music." He does stand still though, as if he realizes that this will make the "water torture" and sooner, so his bathing goes fairly quickly. He tolerates the towel-drying and then shoots out of the bathroom door at the speed of light and begins his ritual after-bath marathon. He runs from one end of the house to the other as fast as he can, bouncing off the sofas and beds, in non-stop fashion.
Jay loves a bath, but he wants you to leave the faucet running while he takes it so he can drink the water. I'm not sure why this is such a fascination, but if you don't leave it running he will sit in the back of the tub and refuse to move, thus making it impossible to wash all of him. So I leave the faucet on, and he happily laps water as he's being lathered. Unfortunately, this results in his needing to go outdoors for a potty break almost immediately after his bath. I let him out the back door, and avoid a near-miss collision in the hallway with the speeding "Super Lance" as I return to the bathroom where Francis is already waiting for her turn.
Francis is bathed without incident, but she insists that the shower curtain be closed, so we can only assume that she's shy. I dry her, open the bathroom door, and this time we both dodge Lance as he rockets past us through the hallway. Jay is barking to be let back in the house now, so I let him in and then locate Mia, who is sitting in the living room chair trying to figure out why Lance is still flying through the house at breakneck speed.
Mia is a little bit timid in the bath and likes to stand up with her front feet on the side of the tub and her face hidden in your shirt while she's being washed. It makes a bit of a mess, but it gives her comfort so we don't mind. When she's done, she likes to be wrapped in a fluffy towel and carried around for awhile, so the wet bathroom has to wait a bit before being cleaned.
Now comes the "drying rituals." Even though he has already been fully towel-dried, Jay is spoiled and wants to be further dried with the blow-dryer as well, which Francis hates. Mia at this point still wants to be cuddled. So I wind up using the blow dryer with one hand to dry Jay as I hold Mia with the other; and Francis is barking at the dryer the whole time; while Lance is STILL rocketing through the house.
About a half hour later things are much calmer, and I take a much-needed rest before starting to clean the bathroom. But then I notice that now *I* am the one who needs a bath... and I think the dogs are laughing at me!
Pet overpopulation is a problem that results in thousands of unwanted animals being euthanized in shelters every year.
Today, all PETCO stores begin their annual "Round Up/Spay Today" fundraiser program, which helps to combat this problem. From July 23rd through August 13, customers are encouraged to "round up" their purchases to the nearest dollar at checkout.
Proceeds from this fundraiser will go to local spay/neuter programs in the communities where each store is located. Additional funds will be donated to Spay USA to support their spay/neuter programs and hotlines.
What started as a joke among friends has evolved into an event of international notice, as Alaska claims its first dog candidate for Governor of the state.
Ruth Sisk, who is the owner of the lovable Golden Retriever named Brinkley, began posting campaign signs featuring "Brinkley for Governor" in her area to amuse her neighbors, and the idea was immediately accepted with great enthusiasm. Sisk now campaigns up to 15 hours a day selling Brinkley T-shirts and other items to raise money for the ASPCA and other worthwhile dog-related nonprofit organizations. She has already raised over $4000 for her efforts, and the campaign is still going strong.
Brinkley's campaign has received media recognition on America's David Letterman Show, the Today Show, and in the Washington Post, as well as many other media venues worldwide.
You can visit Brinkley's website to learn more about this historic fund-raising effort, and may even wish to show your support by purchasing pins, bumper stickers, or shirts from their campaign store.
Our littliest Mini Pinscher, Mia, always seems to get irritated when mom spends too much time on the computer. At times, she even tries to push it off of my lap, and she smacks it frequently with her paw. When I received this joke eMail from a friend today, it gave me a pretty good idea of why that may be:
Reasons dogs don't use computers:
* Can't stick their heads out of Windows XP.
* Hard to read the monitor with your head cocked to one side.
* Too difficult to "mark" every website they visit.
* Can't help attacking the screen when they hear "You've Got Mail."
* Keep bruising their noses trying to catch that MPEG frisbee.
* Not at all fooled by Chuckwagon Screen Saver.
* Still trying to come up with an "emoticon" that signifies tail-wagging.
* Saliva-coated mouse gets mighty difficult to manuever.
* All butts smell the same.
* TpO HAqRD TO TgYPE WITyH PAzWS.
While it is a popular myth that all dogs are natural swimmers, studies have shown that breeds with low body weight and older dogs with hip problems may not have the ability keep themselves from drowning. Even the most active pups can become tired or injured in the water and require a little help.
This week Puppycoat Junction has added to their product line some terrific dog life jackets from Paws Aboard! We like their unique design, which provides a mesh underbelly so that your dog is more comfortably supported. This a particularly positive feature when using the convenient handle on the back to help get the dog out of the water.
Paws Aboard's designer dog life jackets come in your choice of pink or blue with polka dots, and we carry sizes for dogs from 6 to 50 pounds. The original yellow dog life jackets are available in sizes for all dogs from 6 to over 90 pounds.
From Jay D. Dogg: When I was a very young puppy, we found out that the pink spot on top of my nose would get sunburned after only a very short time outdoors. While many dogs never have to worry about it, dogs with thin fur, bare spots or very light colored coats usually do. Even if your pet doesn't go outside, if they like to sunbathe in front of a window or doorway, they are still at risk. We canine kids can get skin cancer and other sun-related skin ailments the same as humans do, so we need our owners to help protect us. While it is not always possible to keep us out of the direct sun, there are still a couple of things you can do.
If your pet likes to be dressed, a dog T-shirt or hat can be very helpful in shading sensitive skin. Just remember to keep the material lightweight so that it isn't too hot.
Using sunblock, like I do, is another terrific way to prevent burns. Most human sunblocks can be harmful to dogs, but dog products have come a long way, and now there are some on the market made just for us! PetsMart now carries Nutri-Vet Sun Defense, which blocks both UVA and UVB rays and is comparable to SPF 15 sunscreens. It in non-scented, doesn't stain, and doesn't feel sticky on the skin. If you look online, you will find many stores selling Pet Sunscreen made by the manufacturer of Doggles, and it is also SPF 15. For dogs that need a bit more protection, you might try MVP Sports Spray insect repellant and sunscreen. It is a waterproof product made with all-natural ingredients, and is safe for both children and pets. It has a rating of SPF 30.
Another thing to consider is your pet's eyes. Long-term exposure to sunlight also increases your pet's chances of developing cataracts, and Doggles make a wonderful array of shatter-proof dog sunglasses to protect them from those harmful UV rays. Their lightweight flexible frames make them comfortable for dogs of all sizes, and the innovative strap system keeps them from falling off. These are particularly useful for dogs who spend a lot of time near water, sand, snow or light-colored concrete, where the reflected sun rays are more intense.
According to this article from the Miami Herald, dog flu has been reported in 22 states and is on the rise. All dog owners should be aware of the symptoms, since the disease is not neccessaarily deadly if caught in time.
South Florida veterinarians are on the lookout for a deadly dog virus making its way around the country.
Dog flu -- also known as canine influenza virus -- is a highly contagious respiratory disease that has more than tripled since last year, said Cynda Crawford, an immunologist at the College of Veterinarian Medicine at the University of Florida.
In Miami-Dade County, veterinarians randomly sampled 100 dogs with respiratory distress from October to May.
Ten percent tested positive for canine influenza, said Sara Pizano, director of Miami Dade Animal Services. Eight dogs were put to sleep.
In Broward, several dogs were put to sleep earlier this year at the Broward County Animal Care and Regulation Division, said Tarnell Carroll, spokesperson for the Broward County Animal Care and Regulation Division.
Last week, more than 70 infected dogs were put to sleep in an animal shelter. And the shelter has suspended adoptions until Monday.
''If we have no dogs for the remainder of this week with the clinical signs of canine influenza, we will open on July 17,'' said Dianne Sauve of the Palm Beach Animal Control Center.
In September, seven states reported outbreaks of dog flu. As of this month, 22 states have reported outbreaks, said Crawford, a national expert on dog flu.
Please follow this link to read the full article which includes symptoms and treatments.
Every dog is special, and this is your chance to show America what makes *your* pet stand out from all the rest. There's a new talk show airing in America this fall, and they are calling for owners to submit video footage of their pets for a chance to appear on TV. For more information and to download their submission form, visit the Humane Society of the United States.
We're always looking for new things for our canine kids to try, and today we found these terrific free offers:
1. Pegetables - Vegetable treats. The "Free Sample" link at the center top of their page.
2. Benny Bullys - They have several flavors to choose from. The "Free Sample" link is in the white space under the top navigation bar.
3. Schmackos - Treats that are made with real bacon.
4. Greenies - ok, these are more of a "chew" than a "treat." Be sure to tell them the weight of your pet, and remember you should always supervise your dog with any kind of edible chew product.
Enjoy!
Hi! My name is Lance, and I'm a hurricane Charley survivor, so I know a bit about storms. Since so many areas seem to be experiencing a pretty rough start to "storm season" this year, I just wanted to remind everyone that when you are getting ready for bad weather, please don't forget us canine kids. Even during a harmless thunderstorm, some of us little guys can get pretty scared, and something as simple staying nearby and petting us a little more than usual can sure help a lot. Sometimes having an indoor crate or something else to hide in helps too. We used to make a little "box tent" with a blanket inside for my sister Mia before we bought her a puppy tent, and being able to hide calmed her quite a bit. Whatever you do, PLEASE don't leave your dogs outside during a heavy storm. Even with a doghouse, there's a lot of things that could hurt your dog (like lightning!).
Really bad weather events can cause you to have to evacuate, and you should definitely have a plan long before you need to go. Here is a pretty good article to read; Hurricane Evacuations for Dog Owners. Even though it deals with hurricane prep, it still has as very good list of items you should think about packing for your dog in ANY kind of evacuation.
Welcome to our blog! Here we will post updates to our website, fun and interesting information about dogs, dog pictures, and more. Puppycoat Junction's website specializes in dog clothes, but we also offer other supplies for them as well because... well, we just love dogs! Each of our own pups has a unique story, and you can meet our special canine crew by visiting our About Us page. They are the inspiration behind our business, and a *very* opinionated lot! We hope that you will find our blog to be both entertaining and, at times, even educational.
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